Wrapping machine



Aug. 28, 1923. 1,465,976 J. FAULL WRAPPING vMACHINE Filed Feb. 9. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I

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Patented Aug. 28, 1923.

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JOHN FAULL, OF BATTLE CREEKLMICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JOHNSON AUTOMATIC SEALER CO., LTD., F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION 0F MICHIGAN.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

Application led February 9, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FAULL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Battle Creek, lvlichigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrapping Machines, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention is an improvement in wrapping machines, and particularly machines in which cartons or other articles, like bread, are wrapped in waxed paper or other` wrappers.

Heretofore the cartons have been fed past the folding mechanism by followers on the main conveyor chain; and it frequently happened that, particularly with light cartons, the same would become slightly displaced whereupon the folding mechanism would not act eifectivcly and the carton would not be securely sealed in the wrapper. This was particularly the case when Wrapping small cartons, as it was found that the tucker of the folding mechanism would engage the wrapper with sufiioient force to displace the carton so that the folder member would not properly engage the wrapper with the result that the rear Hap would frequently not be folded against the package at all and frequently the flap would be inaccurately folded, dependent upon the degree 0f displacement of the package.

The object of the present invention is to provide 'a feeding mechanism by means of which the movement of the carton will always be positively controlled from the time it engages the wrapper until the latter has been folded and sealed about the same, whereby a uniform and excellent sealing of the carton in the waxed paper or other wrapper is secured, all danger of displacing the carton with its attendant defective sealing is eliminated, and all without any sacrice of the speed of output and by the provision of a simple and efficient mechanism. By the present invention the carton is xedly held by the feeding mechanism as it passes the folding devices with the resultJ that the action of the folding mechanism on the wrapper cannot displace or change the position of the carton with respect to the feeding mechanism, and a uniform and eilicient wrapping is thus effected at high speed.

The invention will be better understood by Serial No. 443,612.

reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one expression of the inventive idea, and wherein- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly 1n section, showing one end of the carton conveyor g" F ig. 2 is an enlarged detail of parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverseelevation, partly in section, showing the carton infeed; and

Fig. 4: is a detail perspective showing one of the conveyor followers provided with the clamp of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, 5 indicates any suitable table or support along which the carton or like article is progressed past a suitable wrapper folding mechanism or other instrumentality for-operating on the moving carton or article. The folding mechanism herein illustrated comprises, on each side of the table orsupport, an upper tucker finger 6 and a lower tucker finger 7, an upper folder fin er 8 and a lower folder finger 9. Such fol er mechanism is preferably ot' the well-known type used in the Johnson wax-wrapper machine (see Patent No. 1,270,416) and need not be specifically described. It is sufcient to note that the upper folding mechanism rotates in a` counterclockwise direction around the shaft 10 and that the lower folding mechanism rotates in a clockwise direction around the shaft 11. The folding mechanisms are driven through shafts l2 and 13 and bevel gearing 14: and 15 from any suitable source of power.

A conveyor 16, preferably of the chain I type, continuously progresses the cartons past the folding mechanism. This conveyor passes over suitably supported sprockets 17 one of which is mounted on shaft 18 (Fig. 3) driven through suitable means, as shaft 19 and bevel gears 20 and 21. This conveyor has mounted thereon a plurality of suitably so that said clamp is mounted for sliding movement along said follower standard. The clamp is elevated and depressed by any suitable means when moved into and out of engagement with the wrapped carton, As here shown, a spring-31, one end -of which is anchored to the follower and the other end to the clamp, moves the clamp away from the carton engaging position and a pair of cam tracks 32 and 33, suitably mounted on the frame of the machine, move each clamp into engagement with the carton'. A pair of rollers 34 and 35, carried' by ears 3G and 37 (Fig. 4) engage the cam rails 32 and 33, respectively. lf desired, a single roller and a single cam track may be employed. The

cam tracks are inclined (Fig. 1) at 38 to force the clamp downwardly, and at 39 to ermit the spring 31 to elevate the clamp. greferably a cam 40 is associated with the incline 39 so that the elevating of the clamp, by reason of the engagement of the roller 34 with said cam 40, is rendered more positive.

Any suitable means for moving the cartons into position to be engaged by the fol-v lowers may be employed; but preferably the usual infeed belt 41 and elevator 42 are used, the wax-wrapper being fed into position over the elevator and the wrapper be ing folded under the cartons in the .usual manner and by the well-known mechanisms. The follower removes the carton with the wrapper around it from the elevator 42 and moves it forward against a finger 43 pivoted at 44 and having one end of a spring 45 secured thereto, the other end of said spring being suitably anchored. The finger yields and the carton moves under it, the finger being forced to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig; 2. rlhe cam action is so timed that the 'clamp moves downwardly toward the carton as the finger moves over the top of the carton, so that, just before the carton passes from under` the control of the finger, the clamp securely grips the same, the part 27 engaging the front face of the carton and the part 28 may engage the top of the carton. rlhe carton is thus under positive control and not subject to any displacement by the action of the tucking and folding fingers engaging the wrapper, thus obviating a great objection and solving a very difficult problem in connection with high speed Wrapping machines in which the cartons are continuously fed past the wrapping mechanism.

With such a device wherein the carton is positively controlled at every stage of the operation, it is possible to materially simplify the construction of the machine by 'eliminating the guide rails 46 if desired.

Further, the fixed finger 47 and the pivoted finger 43, which receive the carton from the elevator, may also be removed if desired. Thls, however, necessitates a positioning of the cam incline 38 slightly more to the left as seen in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The cartons are carried by the infeed belt 41 from any suitable source of supply, to the elevator 42 which raises them into the position shown at the left of Fig. 1, between the fixed and yielding fingers, the carton at the same time being enveloped by the wrapper in the us`ual manner. At this moment the follower moves the wrapped carton against the yielding finger 43, the cam inclines operating on the rollers 34 and 35 to move the clamp downward toward the carton. The clamping action is completed just before the carton 'passes from under thecontrol ofthe yielding linger 43, and the car-` ton is then ixedly held as it is progressed past the folding mechanism and the hot plates (not shown). Thereafter the spring 31 and the cam 40 disengage the clamp from the carton which latter .passes onto' the delivery belt.

For the purpose of convenience and simplicity, the invention has herein been illustrated in connection lwith a machine for wrapping filled cartons in wax-wrappers, but it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to the wrapping of other objects, such as loaves of bread and the like; and it is to be understood that, where in the foregoing description and the claims reference has been made to cartons, this expression is to be interpreted as including loaves of bread or other bodies or articles to be wrapped. Further, it will be understood that the follower 23 may engage either the front or rear face of the carton, so long as the carton is held thereagainst by the clamp; and the claims appended hereto are to be so understood.

indeed, the invention, while solving an important and difficult problem in wrapping machines, is not, in its broadest aspect, limited to wrapping machines but is equally applicable to any machine in which it is desired to securely hold an object while at the same time feeding it past an instrumentality for operating thereon.

1While one expression of the inventive idea has been heretofore described and illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that the inventive idea may be embodied in various mechanical expressions within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of folding mechanism, means for feeding cartons past said folding mechanism including afollower engaging `the rear of the carton, and automatically operating means movable longitudinally with respect to said follower for engaging the front of the carton before it is fed past lll() said foldin means, said means being automatically isengaged therefrom after the carton has been fed past said folding means.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, a follower thereon to engage one face of a carton to be wrapped, folding mechanism past which the cartons are fed by said conveyor, and automatically operating means movable lon gitudinally with respect to said follower engaging the carton and holding the same securely against said follower as the carton 1s fed past said folding mechanism.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, a follower thereon to engage one face of a carton to be wrapped, folding mechanism past which the cartons are fed by said conveyor, and automatically operating means slidably mountedv on said follower engaging the carton and holding the same securely-against said follower as the carton is fed past said foldingI mechanism.

4. In a machine of the character described,

" the combination of al conveyor, a. follower thereon to engage the rear face of the carton to be wrapped, folding mechanism past which the cartons are fed by said conveyor, a member slidably mounted on said follower, means for moving the same into engagement with saidcarton to hold the same securely as the carton is fed past said folding mechanism, and means for disengaging said member from said carton.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, a follower thereon to engage the rear face of the carton to be wrapped, folding mechanism past which the cartons are fed by said conveyor, a member slidably mounted on said follower, means for moving the same into engagement with the top' and front face of said carton to hold the same securely as the carton is fed past said foldin mechanism, and means for disengaging sai member from said carton. f

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, a follower thereon to engage the rear face of the carton to be wrapped, folding mechanism past which the cartons are fed by said conveyor, a member slidably mounted on said follower, a cam for moving the same into engagement with said carton to hold the same securely as the carton is fed past said folding mechanism, and means for disengaging said member from said carton.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an elevator, a. yielding finger into engagement with which the carton is raised, a. conveyor, a follower thereon to engage the carton to be wrapped and move the same past said yielding finger, folding mechanism past which the cartons are fed by said conveyor, automatically operating means engaging the carton just before it passes beyond the control of said yielding finger and holding the same securely against said follower as the carton is fed vpast said folding mechanism.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of an elevator for the cartons, yielding means receiving the carton from said elevator, a conveyor engagin the cartons while they are held by sai means and removing the same therefrom, folding mechanism past which the cartons are fed by said conveyor, and means carried by said conveyor and automatically movable into engagement 4with said carton as the latter is passing out of the control of said yielding means. v

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of folding means, means for feeding cartons past said folding means, means for moving cartons to said feeding means, a yielding member receiving the carton from said moving means, a follower constituting part of said feeding means for progressing. the carton past said yielding means, and a device carried by said feeding means and coacting with said follower and automatically engaging said carton just before the carton passes said yielding member to hold the same securely .as it is fed past said folding means.

10. Ih a device of the character described, the combination of folding means, means for continuously feeding cartons past said folding means, means for moving cartons to said feeding means, a yielding member receiving the carton from said moving means, a follower constituting part of said feeding means for progressing the carton past said yielding means, a movable device coacting with said follower to securely hold the carton as itv is fed past said folding means, and meansv for moving said device into engagement with said carton before the for continuously feeding cartons past said folding means, means for moving cartons to said feeding means, a yielding member receiving the carton from said moving means, a follower constituting part of said feeding means for progressing the carton past said yielding means, a movable device coacting with said follower to securely hold the carton as it is fed past said folding means, and means for moving said device into engagement with said carton before the same reaches said folding mechanism.

12.' In a machine of the character described, a folding mechanism, a continuously operating conveyor, a follower thereon engaging a carton to m'ove the same past said folding mechanism, and an automatically operating clamp movable longitudinally with respect to said follower and engaging said carton before the operation of the folding me'chanism thereon.

13. In a machine of the character described, a folding mechanism, a continuously operating conveyor. a follower thereon engaging a carton to move the same past said vfolding mechanism, an automatically operating clamp movable vlongitudinally with respect to said follower and engaging said carton before the operation of the folding mechanism thereon, and means for disengaging said clamp from said carton after the operation of said folding mechanism.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of folding mechanism, a conveyor, a follower thereon engaging a carton to move the same past said folding mechanism, and an automatically operating slidable clamp engaging said carton before the operation of said folding mechanism and disengaging the same after the operation of said folding mechanism.

15. In combination, a track or way along which articles are to be fed, a conveyor for feeding said articles, an instrumentality for operating on said articles as they are so fed, and an automatically operating slidable clamp engaging said article before the operation of said instrumentality thereon, and disengaging the same after the operation of said instrumentality.

16. In combination, a track or way along which articles are to be fed, a continuously moving conveyor for feeding said articles,

an instrumentality for operating on said articles as they are so fed, and an automatically operating slidable clamp engaging said article before the operation of said instrumentality thereon, and disengaging the same after the operation of said instrumentality.

17. In combination, a track or way along which articles are to be fed, a conveyor for feeding said articles, a yielding member past which tlie articles are progressed by said conveyor, an instrumentality for operating on said articles as they are so fed, and an automatically operating clamp engaging said article before it passes out of engagement with said yielding member and disengaging the same after the operation of said instrumentality.

18. In combination, a track or way along which articles are to be fed, a conveyor for feeding said articles, a follower on said conveyor engaging said articles, a yielding member past which the articles are progressed by said'follovver, an instrumentality for operating on said articles as they are so fed, and an automatically operating clamp carried by said follower and engaging said article before it passes out ofengagement with said yielding member and disengaging the same after the operation of said instrumentality.

19. In combination, a conveyor, a follower carried thereby, a clamp slidably mounted on said follower, and a spring and a cam controlling the movements of said clamp.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JoHN MUM.. 

